AIBU to be considering throwing away my complete wardrobe and starting again.

[BearRun]

As title says really, I hate everything in my wardrobe and can never find anything I want to wear. If you were brave enough to do this what would you replace it with and from where? And how many of each basic item such as jeans, leggings etc?
So now my question about makeup. I currently don't wear any ever and think I might like to start to wear a little bit to make me look better. What brands are any good? And is a makeover in the likes of debenhams worth having?

Bear- do you think it's age/ body change/ different fashions? I usually love clothes, but I've just lost my way.

Is there a stylist local to you who you could work with to build your wardrobe. They work with you to understand your lifestyle, body shape and colours, then go shopping with you. The cost is approimatly £150 but would be worth it if you are starting from scratch.

Bear- have just seen about your weight loss and savings. Well done! No wonder you feel a bit lost. I would have a massive try on session. There will be styles that you never thought would fit but might look great!

I've just done this yesterday. I've put 10lb on and ATM I just have no motivation to lose it. I know I will find it again but have taken the decision to accept it for now and have gone through all my clothes and figured out what still fits. Invested in a couple of pairs of new jeans rather than squeezing myself into some that are too tight as I think that just looks worse.
I'm still an average size (13 bottom which is annoying & 10/12 top) but sometimes I get fed up of constantly calorie counting so decided to give myself a bit of a break but still be sensible. I have also made the decision not to purchase any more clothes for 6 months (except essentials such as underwear) as I realised how much stuff I actually have and don't use

Most large department stores also offer this for free but you are limited to what they sell, so the larger the store the better.

I'd love to do this. Re makeup pop to a Charlotte Tilbury makeup counter as the products are amazing. I did this for my wedding makeup and the results were really professional.

I know you don't want to do it for a month or so, but as you'll be shopping more for Autumn stuff, it might be worth going to Zara now - they have some lovely big scarves for only £3.99 in the sale and I find those invaluable on cooler days. They had block colours and patterns in my local shop, and the size doesn't matter on those .

I would start by buying some basics you really love and going from there...

So a really nice jacket, suede, leather etc. Something that will make any outfit look better...try Mango, COS, Whistles, John Lewis.

Then some jeans, you don't have to spend loads on these, but they should be durable. Since you're quite short I would go mid/high rise, straight leg, so you can wear them with anything. Black is probably smarter than blue. Levi's will get a perfect fit.

Then a smart but lovely dress in a colour you love. Finery? Warehouse? Something you could wear to work but also out?

Then I would buy some everyday tops, maybe in nicer fabrics so they could be smarter as well. Fat face or Gap, or Zara.

Maybe draw up a rough list, and don't feel you have to get everything in one if you're not seeing things you love.

Enjoy! I'm jealous!

Thanks for the tip about scarves, we do have a big Zara at the local shopping centre which I have never been in before. We are taking dc to see despicable me 3 later this afternoon so could do that after. As a side note I have never worn a scarf to accessorie an outfit, are these generally something everyone can pull off?

To the pp who asked why I feel so lost I think it is having children that did it for me. I had 3 kids in 5 years and ended up fatter than I liked and hating my body, so just didn't make the effort anymore. My youngest dd will be going to school in September and so I think it is time to start making an effort and hopefully gain more self confidence.

Ok I have a question probably a silly one but need reassurance. At 35 will wearing an out fit like skinny trousers/jeans a floaty blouse and a casual blazer/denim jacket be a bit mutton dressed as lamb? I am shit scared for looking like a prat. I have never owned a denim jacket, biker jacket or blazer in my life not even in my late teens early 20's.

Oh absolutely re scarves being OK for everyone!

I work from home in a ridiculously open-plan house, and I always have one to hand - if you get the ones that are basically just a big bit of fabric that go round you a couple of times, they work with everything.

ASOS will probably have some in the sale just now as well - just search 'oversized' scarves. If you buy a plain grey and neutral colour one, they'll work with everything. Also really useful with kids as they are easier to get on and off than all the layers that look great but are awkward. White Company do some nice ones too and they'll be in the sale just now (I'll have a look and see if they have the ones I got last year - they're heavier than the Zara ones but really good quality).

I think you could probably do a pre-shop if you know what you're after and get the non-size specific stuff like accessories, bags etc in the sale just now as they are all on second or third markdowns and there are some great bargains out there.

There are a few blogs that are good too for ideas - I like SusieSoSo even though she's a different shape from me. She takes a lot of stuff back, so that speaks to me!

For make up etc, there are also some fab beauty boxes that are good value and let you try things before committing - have you looked at those?

Mutton/lamb comment - don't give it a thought. People who use phrases like that are idiots who shouldn't be taking up any of your headspace. I've got 15 years on you and wear all of those things you mention.

You've done brilliantly with your weight loss and the fact that you are talking about getting a new wardrobe shows that you are ready for this - I have the self-confidence thing too a lot of the time, but tell myself that I do feel better when I'm pulled together. People can then hate other things about me .

When I get down to 9st anything I will do this. Currently around the 12/3 stone mark. I plan:-

pair skinny jeans
pair jeggings
Pair 7/8s

Comfy tshirt dress
wrap dress

few vests
few camis
Little grey jacket
cardi

Bit off topic, but what is it about 'nude' shoes that everyone seems to like ( referring to a poster upthread, on page 1) ???

I think they look awful and make an outfit look unfinished !

The pom pom and tassel scarves here are the ones I mentioned - they are out of stock online, but maybe your local store?

www.thewhitecompany.com/search?text=scarf

Bearrun, my standard outfit is skinny jeans, floaty top/shirt, cardi if required and jacket. Generally I wear converse as my job is running around after kids all day. I don't think it's mutton at all. I'd like to be smarter and more made up but i end my day covered in food/snot so it's not worth it! I am going out on Friday and have decided I'm going to wear a dress rather than jeans. I feel crazy 😂

That's not remotely muttonish. And even if you were 70 rather than 35 it would still be a perfectly good look - did you ever see Mary Berry on Bakeoff?

I agree jam - they're such a cliché now. There are some lovely block heels around that are much nicer, and I think a bold colour can make the skinnies/jacket/vest look seem lovely.

Not at all OP! It will look fab.

Love those scarves DownHere we don't have a White Company locally, I have actually never heard of them. We live in the Midlands/Walse border though so shopping not great.
Dh has just said he is going to get his mum to have the kids for a few days mid week towards the end of September when dd is settled properly into school and he is going to book a hotel in London and take me shopping in Oxford/Regents Street where there will be more shops to choose from. He said he was proud of me for losing the weight and wants me to have a better choose now I have the confidence to buy and wear the outfits I want.

Choice

I've had to do this recently because I lost 3 stone! I'm definitely thinking less is more with my wardrobe. I've kept most of my coats actually (one black raincoat with piping, black biker jacket and a vintage burgundy leather jacket). I have two pairs of skinny jeans (one blue and one grey). I have about 10 t-shirts, 5 vests. Some nice knee length dresses (varying smartness) and a black jumpsuit. I have a coupe of pairs of crooks trousers for the summer. I have a really nice grey blazer (Debenhams I think) that looks ace and smartens up jeans and tops. I feel so much smarter now, more confident. I have less clothes and more choice. I have probably spent about £500 on clothes and £200 (!) on underwear.

I'll have a look at that blog, it sounds good.

I'm about an hour away from a WC shop too - they have lovely things, and all very versatile, but they can be pricey so sales are worth watching. Customer Service is excellent too - if you do order anything, put some Seychelles room spray into your basket as it is divine!

Make sure you post what you do decide to get - hope you have a lovely time filling your new wardrobe .

If I lived in the Midlands I would get myself up to Cheshire Oaks for coat/bag/boots. Or down to Bicester Village.

I have never been to Cheshire Oaks, is this a shopping centre? We are only about an hour from Cheshire so not far at all.